Improvement in shot metallic cartridges



E.K.ROOT. SHOT METALLIC CARTRIDGE.

Patented May 5, 1863..

Wdreas es 4 JL w tar: I YZ/(Z/ZM of my invention,

K. ROOT, or HARTFORD,;UONNEQTICUT.

' rmrnovnmnur m sno'r' METALLIC can'rnmcns.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,414, dated May 5, 1863.

being had to. the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to a new kind of fixed ammunition, having for its object the use of shot, or several small balls, for asingle charge,

as distinguished from a charge employing a bullet or single ball; and my invention cousists in the employment of a charge of powder,

a charge of shot, or of several balls, and a suitable primer or quantity of fulminate, in. combination with a case or shell inclosing them, substantially as hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it more fully, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing, making part of this application, and in which-- Figure 1 is an elevation of one of my improved shot-oartridges or fixed-ammunition -charges. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the same; and Fig. 3 is a similar section, showing a modification which will be presently explainedJ In the several figures the same letter indicates the same part of the apparatus.

a is a metallic case or shell, which may be made of any desired shape and size, and which.

contains the powder, shot, and i'ulminate or priming. The rear end or base of this case a may be made with an annular flange, in the ordinary manner of forming the base of the metallic carbridge-case now in use, 0, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2; and the fulminate or percussion-powder arrangedwithin said flange in the known manner, as shown at Fig. 2. Or the rear end of said casea may be made without any flange,

. so as to be loaded through the muzzle of a gun, as shown at Fig. 3, where the fulminate shown is arranged on the periphery of a disk,

.f. Or the case a may be made to inclose the 'fulminate in any other manner desired. A suitable charge of powder is putinto the case a, as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3,011: which may be placed awad, e, composed of a disk of felt, or any other material of any required thickness, next to which isplnced the charge of shot seen at (1, Figs. 2 and 3, over which the end of case a. is closed, by being'cut in points or sector-like teeth around its edge, and the said points then bent over and'together, to form the surface of a hemisphere, as'clearly illustrated at Fig. 1, at b; but it will be understood that the forward end of the case a, in lieu of being made hemispherical, as just descrihed nay'he made :in any other form to inclose the charge of shot or series oi balls d.

The. method of arranging the fuhninate shown at Fig. 3 difi'ers from the arrangement shown in the other figures in this respect, that the fulminate, when arranged as in Fig. 3,,is

exploded by a blow given at about right angles to the axis of the cylindrical case a, while that arranged as shown in Fig. 2 is exploded by ablow given in a direction nearly parallel to the axis of the case a. But this method of arranging the primer is made the subject oi a separate application for Letters Patent hy me,

whbreit will be found fully described.

I wish it to be understood that in carrying out my invention various modifications may I be adopted in the form of the case or shell; a

that various material may be employed to make it; and that any desired quantities-and kinds of powder'and balls may be used.

I am aware that previous to my invention cartridges have been made and fixed ammunition in which the fulmiuate and'chargeof powder were'inclosed or arranged in a case in a manner similar'to that shown in this application, but in such instances the forward end of the case or shell containing the fulminate and charge of powder was attached to a bullet or ball, and the whole difiered from any invention, and was not adapted to the purpose for which my invention is intended.

I am also aware that a shotcartridge has been made consisting of a metallic or other case containing only the charge of shot, and to be used with a separatecharge of powder and primer; but such aeartridgeis not properly fixed ammunition, and is very difierent from my fixed ammunition for shot.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' der,' fulminate,' and I am. also awere that shot-cartridges have been; made, as shown .in the English patent of Restell, February 8, 1856, in which the powsmall balls are arranged within a case having in it a central stud or shank running its whole length, and on which is a button or disk which closes'the forward curl of the case and holds in the balls. I do not wish to be understood as claiming any such combination as this.

.Having fully explained the nature of, my

' invention, and 'so' described it, in connection with theitccoinpanyingdrawing,that'any one skilled in the art can make and use the same,

what I claim as new, and desire to" secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination charge of shot, and the i'ulminate, with a case or shell surrounding or iuelosing them,- con- K. noocr. s.]

I In presence of- GEORGE G SI L,

WM. W. MoFsRLAND.

of a charge of powder, a 

